A major new collaboration with the National Gallery, Murals reMastered will transform some of the world’s greatest paintings into giant public artworks – with murals planned across the UK. Launching the campaign is Henri Rousseau’s Surprised! (1891) recreated larger than life in the heart of London’s Camden Town.
Details
Client:
National Gallery
Location:
North London
Year:
2026
Tagged:

Murals reMastered is an ambitious, nationwide collaboration between the National Gallery and Global Street Art, that will see some of the world’s greatest paintings transformed into monumental murals in streets, neighbourhoods and unexpected public spaces across the UK.

The first artwork to be featured is Henri Rousseau’s Surprised! first painted in 1891. The artwork features a tiger prowling through the jungle at night. Now, it’s been recreated as a larger-than-life mural, right in the centre of London’s Camden Town – just a short walk from the real tigers at London Zoo. It took our talented team of artists a week to paint, working through the night!

"By bringing some of the world’s greatest paintings onto UK streets, neighbourhoods and everyday public spaces, we hope to spark curiosity, conversation and connection – reaching audiences who may never have encountered these works before."

Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery

    About the artwork

    Surprised! was the first of around 20 jungle paintings that Henri Rousseau produced – and they’re some of his most popular works. These jungles are entirely imaginary though, as Rousseau never left France (despite his claim that he served with the French army in Mexico.) The foliage is a mix of domestic house plants and tropical varieties, which he had seen at the Botanical Gardens in Paris.

    Rousseau was a self-taught amateur artist who took up painting as a hobby. He took his painting very seriously, despite facing ridicule from the elite. But a number of artists and writers, particularly from the avant-garde, hailed him as an important figure. Now, Rousseau is seen as a pioneer of ‘naïve art’, and Surprised! is one of the most beloved works in the National Gallery’s collection – not bad for a hobby artist eh?

    You can find the Surprised! mural on Jamestown Road in Camden Town throughout spring 2026.

    "Murals reMastered is a natural collaboration between the National Gallery and Global Street Art, bringing the worlds of classical and contemporary painting together at monumental scale."

    Dr Lee Bofkin, CEO of Global Street Art

    Get involved:

    Find out more about Murals reMastered on the National Gallery’s website.

    If you’re a landlord or property owner and are interested in commissioning a mural as part of the project – please get in touch with the Global Street Art team, to discuss.
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